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You may remember the story of left-wing radical Philly journalist and activist Josh Krueger, who was shot seven times by 19-year-old Robert Davis. The plot thickened considerably last week when it was revealed that Krueger and Davis knew each other. But now the story has taken on an even darker twist. Davis’ family has come forward with a shocking allegation: they claim that Krueger had been sexually grooming and abusing Davis since he was 15 years old.

The Philadelphia Enquirer:

The family of Robert Davis, 19, who is accused of killing local journalist Josh Kruger, said that Davis was just 15 when he and Kruger began a years-long relationship involving drugs — and that Davis told them Kruger was threatening to post sexually explicit videos of him online before, police say, Davis shot Kruger.

Those assertions by Davis’ mother and older brother in recent interviews with The Inquirer add troubling new complexities to a killing that has garnered national attention. Their account, they said, is drawn from recent conversations with Davis, and from the years of watching his life unravel as he tried to keep the relationship and his drug addiction hidden.

Kruger, 39, was killed after a man entered his Point Breeze home in the middle of the night, police said, and shot him seven times at the base of his stairs. Surveillance video near the scene and tips from Kruger’s friends and family led detectives to Davis, and a warrant was issued for his arrest a few days later. Police described the pair as acquaintances, and said Kruger “was trying to help [Davis] get through life.”

The narrative took a dramatic turn when investigators found explicit photos and messages on Kruger’s phone. Philadelphia politician Malcolm Kenyatta initially posted a glowing tribute to the so-called “professional” Josh Kruger, only to retract it as new disturbing developments emerged.

It turns out that Mr. Kruger was feeding the anguished teenager drugs, giving him Gucci clothing, and taking advantage of him for sex, which sparked a pretty dramatic mental breakdown.

Damica Davis and her older son Jaylin Reason said in an interview that Davis faced mental health issues from a young age. He struggled to control his anger in school, his mother said, partially because of the absence of his biological father in his life, and often got into fights. When he was about 15, she said, his troubles intensified after he started sneaking out in the middle of the night and coming home high on drugs.

They said Davis told them he was seeing an “older white woman” he met online who “worked for the government.”

They frequently saw the name “Josh” pop up in messages on his phone, they said, and when they asked who Josh was, Davis told them it was the woman’s brother, who was gay.

It was only later, in their call with him Friday, they said, that Davis told them he had been seeing Kruger all along.

[…]

Davis sometimes returned home with expensive gifts, such as designer belts and Gucci pants, they said, and would tell his family the woman bought them for him. He’d sometimes stay out until early morning, they said, and return under the influence of drugs. They found needles, pills, and other drug paraphernalia in his pockets, and believe he became addicted to meth.

Even worse, there are indications that Kruger was trying to force Davis into doing something he didn’t want to do.

“He was scared,” she said. “He said ‘… He wanted me to do some stuff I didn’t want to do and if I didn’t do it, he said he was going to blackmail me.’”

We shudder to think of what that something was.

Oh, the irony.

All this time, Kruger was supposed to be a “recovered” and sober drug addict, but the HIV-positive homosexual was hiding a dark secret.

Police sources say he was concealing parts of his life, and that meth was found in his bedroom. Still, news of his death left many shocked and devastated. City and state leaders shared statements celebrating his life and support for vulnerable communities.

It seems that Mr. Kruger was not the “consummate professional” he appeared to be; rather, he was more likely a shrewd and merciless predator. If it is true that Kruger was blackmailing Davis and trying to force him into perverted actions, those may be mitigating factors that indicate Davis is guilty of manslaughter or something comparable, not murder.

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